Bone Collector

Occasionally a record will surprise you. It will get under your skin and stay there for days, begging repeated spins and endless scrolling through the liner notes. I'm a huge fan of when this happens and more so because I had a good feeling with this record from the word go. 

Creepoid - Cemetery Highrise Slum - Collect Records - 1st Press - Bone/? 

There's something about this band that made me fall in love with them, without really clicking hard with their music. Something kept pulling me back in for another listen. It started with their split with Shores, and since then I've been really digging this band hard. Through their catalogue, their sound manages to become more refined yet more loose. It's cool. I've had this record a short time and it's my favourite of theirs by quite a stretch. 

A close up of the cover reveals the spot UV band logo laid over the artwork. The photograph here is super spooky, and got me really excited for the album. The title was a great hit for me too, it's pretty apt for the sound and overall gritty feeling of what this band are up to right now. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

The back of the sleeve has the title of the LP in spot UV finish. In this light you also get a bit more of the 'Bone' look. It's weird, there's very little knowledge about this variant kicking about online. The three variants on the Collect Store are /400 each. There was a tour variant on Sea Blue and Bone mix. However, this flat Bone is a little harder to get information on. It's readily available on Discogs so I'm not assuming it's a particularly limited pressing, but if anyone knows anything please hit me up! 

Inside the sleeve you get this neat live poster. This band just look so fucking cool right? Not a microphone in sight either. Creepoid in huge letters also UV's across the entire thing and it looks magnificent and should really be seen in person for the effect. Collect went all out on a cool package for this one, and I'm looking forward to picking up a couple more newer releases from the label. 

Sticker on the shrinkwrap. When I move it into a polysleeve I'll try and salvage this because it looks pretty nice next to the art. 

And finally, there is a fully printed insert / dust sleeve with lyrics/ credits etc. However, there is a fairly poignant Jack 'O' Lantern candy carrier. 

Happy Halloween dudes!

Born on Black Wax

I can't believe in October I am still buying RSD records. I'm okay with this one though, and hopefully it'll tide me over until I start lusting over the High Fidelity soundtrack coming out for this years Black Friday event. 

The Menzingers - I Was Born - Red Scare Industries - 1st Press - Black /500 (RSD '15) 

There was also a Blue variant, exclusive to the Red Scare online store I think. One thing I will say is that the artwork doesn't really do too much for me. Mostly as all the sleeves for the 7''s seem to fit the theme of the album from the time (Hold On Dodge is a great example of this), but this one just sticks out like a sore thumb. 

It seems a little weird that they would pull out such an old song from an old record too. However, if it means pulling out these cool acoustic B-Sides then I'm all down for it. It seems strange to think Chamberlain Waits is about 5 years old now. Around that LP is where I first started paying attention to them, and so in a way this works pretty well for me. 

Finally, the sleeve came with this little sticker. 

On a cool note, I didn't have to go down the Discogs // eBay route for this one. Leave it to good ol' Different Kitchen to hook you up with all the good stuff right? 

Cheers!

CSD Ballads

Cassette Store Day came and went, and as it does it went without much of a fuss. However, I was tempted by a couple things, and my band managed to sneak a song onto the Zyng Records comp for the day. I won't talk about the comp here, as that seems a little weird. One item I had to order from the US and hopefully I'll be writing about it soon. The only other item I was into arrived a couple days ago so I'll wax about that. 

Self Defense Family - German Industrial Ballads - Bad Paintings Records - 1st Press - White /? (Cassette Store Day '15 Exclusive) 

Another day; another SDF release. This one's a little bittersweet however. It's cool because it contains a new track. However, you have to wade through a bunch of tracks you already own to get to it. In itself it's not a bad idea, as that's what a best of is all about right? Also, there's a zine where the band explain why they picked these tracks for the comp. included with the cassette and that's a truly cool extra. The songs are great, but I'm so used to hearing those songs in a certain order that to fuck with that fucks with me a little! 

B-Side // Inlay 

The art wraps around the entire outside of the J-Card with the inside left blank. The art is cool though, and reminds me a little of their live cassette that you can read about here: 

http://23rotations.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/self-defense-familive.html

Printed up shells are cool too, I like the simple print in contrast to how busy the cover art is. 

For me, the main selling point was this neat little zine. 

Although the text is pretty tiny, I much prefer it to cramming it all onto a J-Card. This allows a lot more space, some room for a photograph or two. Some of the explanations of songs are typically SDF, and some are truly insightful and makes it seem a personal release. A decent amount of effort into what could've been a boring addition. 

The obvious addition from Patrick Kindlon. 

It's cool right? 

I'm still behind on the SDF game. Most of what I need is easily available, but I just haven't got around to it. However, the EOAY gems are probably staying on my want list for a long time yet. 

Cheers!

Identity // Control

A few moons ago, I got wind of a new Fade 7'' due to be released by Control Records. It seemed an odd but somehow perfect fit. Hardcore dudes playing not Hardcore Music put out through a primarily hardcore label. Anyone who reads this blog will know how hard I back Fade, and I got excited. Then I waited a few months, looking at the Control Records store daily and occasionally emailing the owner of Control (Geert) for updates. I think the first anyone saw of the physical release was at the Burn show in London earlier this month. Sadly I wasn't there, and so I missed out on grabbing this record early and I also missed out on that Purple Burn 7'' (serisouly, hook a mate up). Anyway, I'm here to chat about the new Fade 7'', so I guess I'll get on with it. 

Fade - Identity - Control Records - 1st Press - Blue /100 (Mailorder Exclusive) 

Technically not a mailorder exclusive as these were also sold at the Burn show, but we can look past that. This is the first time that all the tracks listed for the EP appear on the physical. Normally time constraints push a song out, but here we get two new songs and a Memorial Day cover. I don't know much about Memorial Day, other than it was post Turning Point stuff from Skip. On the basis of this song though I'll delve into that a little more. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

I think this is the strongest of the three Fade releases and it settled in almost immediately, getting repeated spins every day. Aesthetically this one does it for me more than the others too. The design just screams early '90's and a dude called Ted Del Toro handled it. I believe it's the same guy that runs Pure Fun Skate Zine but I could be wrong... 

The dust sleeve has a sticker attached where the record is numbered. I know a similar thing was done for the Beware 7'' on Red from Control. I ended up with #39/100. 

First side of the insert 

I thought Max had left the band, but he appears on this insert so again, I could be wrong? 

This side contains the lyrics / thanks / lineup at time of recording. Pretty much all you need to know. 

Fade - Identity - Control Records - 1st Press - Black /200 

Two variants make up the first press, with a total pressing of 300. I'm not going to re-photograph everything you just saw as we'd be here all day else. 

One cool thing though is how the blue 7''s came with a blue insert and the black came with this sand coloured type deal. It's the little things right? 

Both records came with this pair of stickers. I love it when a record comes with a sticker or patch relative to the release. OG sticker game is a mad thing in Hardcore that I'll never understand. I'm sure I heard about a dude on the Rev Recs board maybe back in the day paying a decent amount for an old Warzone sticker or something? It's something I'll never attempt to understand; but I can guarantee that these will stay in their respective sleeves and never be used, so I really need to question if I'm just as bad as them? 

Fade - Identity - Control Records - Test Press - Black /15 

It wouldn't be a Fade post if I didn't talk about the test press I managed to grab too right? Again, this is the first time I got all 3 records in one package. Normally I have the test waiting around for weeks before the regular copies show up due to plan backups. This is also the most I've paid for a Fade test so far, not that I mind at all. It wasn't a crazy amount by any means, and at this far in I guess I need to keep on going right? 

This test is pretty cool though. Alternate art, stamped centre labels (although you can't easily see in the photo, the centre label has the regular copy design on it too, but it's super faint or been pressed over? 

The record comes in a quarter fold sleeve and I ended up with number 11/15 as you can see here. I got an email from Geert not long after I paid for this, and he asked if I wanted everything sending over as one; or to get the standard copies and to have this shipped later once he made covers up for them. I feel like I'd been waiting months for this release (although turnaround from pre-order was super quick!) so a few extra days weren't going to hurt. 

Finally, a little group shot. This once again makes my Fade collection complete, including tests and release show covers. I'll get a full photo together and post it here sometime. 

This is the only complete collection I have that includes all tests too; and I was sweating a little over this one. It's a cool feeling to have them in my hands. 

I also grabbed this when placing an order. Back to Back handled the US press, Control handled the Euro side. This is from the 1st press and is /300 as I was too late to grab a numbered red copy (also being sold at the Burn show. I really should've skipped on work in retrospect.) 6 tracks of cool as you like Straight Edge hardcore from Philadelphia.

Single Series

A few days ago, I received a trio of 7''s that I've been looking forward to get for months now. The cool thing is they're perfect. The downside is I feel robbed of time as I should've had them about 6 weeks ago. This story takes a little bit of backlog and explaining, so let's dive in: 

On the 2nd of September, me and a mate trekked down to Birmingham to see Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World play an acoustic solo show. Small venue, all seated and since it had been about 5 years since I last saw Jimmy Eat World play, I was more than excited for this one. 

After the set (which was incredible, I had a little moment at For Me This is Heaven, no shame), I lurked the stage and nabbed this setlist.

I also did a little more lurking and met him after, getting the aforementioned setlist signed. The only downside of the night was the lack of records available on the night; the records came in late and were only available on the last UK date. The tour was announced around the same time as a single series went up for pre-order. 3 singles, 3 new songs on the A-Sides and a cover on each B-Side. Neat right? So I had to buy online, but they arrived and this post can now all come together, despite it being a little late. 

Jim Adkins - Hell - RCA Records - 1st Press - Red /1500 

All of the records follow the same layout, which is neat. The colour of the 7'' also correlates to the trim of colour on the cover art. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

None of the records have an insert, and the back cover tells you all you need to know. Normally I would moan about no lyrics, but Jim Adkins stripped down kind of allows you to pick up whatever is being sung without any difficulty. This is my favourite of the B-Sides, a cover of Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. He explained at the show that songs he chooses to cover sometimes come without any real depth or reason, and I assume this is quite apparent here. 

Jim Adkins - Love Don't Wait - RCA Records - 1st Press - Silver /1500 

I think this was the first song I heard streamed from the bunch, and I dug it straight away. The colour here is cool, the other two are definitely more flat and I was assuming this to be a flat grey; but the neat swirls in the mix definitely stick out. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

I think all the songs were self produced, which is cool. There's nothing I don't like about this little solo project. It seems more fun than most, and doesn't appear like it will take up any time from Jimmy Eat World too which is calming for me! 

Jim Adkins - I Will Go - RCA Records - 1st Press - Gold /1500 

My favourite of the 3 originals, and it sounded great live. I get that practically this could've gone on to a 12'' or something, but the look of a single series is really cool and doesn't happen too often nowadays. I'm into it, but there wasn't much of a chance of me not liking it either! 

Back Cover // B-Side 

Finally, here is a little group shot

Cheers!!

Amazon Picks

I'm sure that a lot of readers experience this. Once you get to a point of buying records where no one really knows where you're at anymore, they kind of give up trying to guess what you're into. This is a weird dilemma for me; as on my birthday I love a good surprise, but my family also know well that I will never tell anyone if I think a gift isn't for me. Fuck, I still have a Deep Purple 7'' from my Nan from a few years back, as I never had the heart to tell her that it wasn't really my bag. So nowadays, more often than not I'll end up with an Amazon voucher or something similar. The premise being that this is money going on records, but it saves me having to lie through my teeth to my family, and gets me records I want. This post isn't about a particularly rare or cool Amazon dig, but more a common ground for a few readers here I'm sure. What did you buy with your last Amazon voucher? This was from my niece and her family. Her having recently discovered a love for Morrissey, we have a bit to talk about. I got two records, neither are Moz though. 

Slowdive - Souvlaki - Music On Vinyl - 1st Press - Black (180 Gram) - /? 

A few months back, I wrote about the 'Blue Day' RSD re-issue here: 

http://23rotations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/rsd-15-pt-4.html 

and the same premise stands as before. I wanted a copy of this; didn't want to pay the crazy money for a Creation press and didn't really want a bootleg. This is a reasonably priced and great looking/sounding answer to all my problems. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

Although I love the cover art here, I do like the similarity between this and Blue Day with the nice and simple back cover design. In a way I'm glad that I went for this press, as now I'll grab the MoV repress of Just For A Day and call it (I mean, I might grab Pygmalion too but what I've heard doesn't grab me). I nearly bought a Creation press of Just For A Day in a shop in Sheffield around a month ago, but after taking it to the till and discovering they wanted £32.99 for a battered and scratched copy with sticker and water damage on the sleeve (I honestly expected an asking price of no more than £5 for the condition it was in) I passed. FYI, that same copy is currently on Discogs and is marked as VG+/VG. I've seen it with my own eyes and both gradings are a total load of bollocks. 

Insert

I like that you get an insert with this one. I'm not sure if it replicates the original (if it had one) or whether this is new. But I'm into the cover art a lot, and photography from around that time is great by me. Steve Double took the cover photo (presumably this one too); and this sits alongside a portfolio of dudes like The Stone Roses, Oasis, Nirvana etc. And I have the crushiest of crushes on Rachel Goswell too... 

Other side of the insert. 

Considering this was pressed in 2011, I assume they pressed a lot as you can still find it new for not much over £10 posted. Recording credits, track-listing and release notes take up the bulk here; a lyrics sheet would've been cool, but overall I think this is a great and super neat package. Definitely worth grabbing if you're not up for parting with big-ish money on a Creation press. 

Lastly here, you get a stickered sleeve, advertising it as a MoV press on 180 gram. It definitely sounds great to my ears too! Classic album is up for debate though, it gets a lot of love nowadays, but according to the recent Pitchfork documentary (well worth a watch by the way!) no one gave much of a damn the first time round. Either way, I think it's fantastic and I'm bummed it's taken this long to get around to grabbing it. 

On to  record number two! 

Creeper - The Callous Heart - Roadrunner Records - 1st Press - Black /500 

Another band I have previously written about (their first EP, here: http://23rotations.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/creepercult.html). 

I've had a lot of love for Creeper, and I have a lot of love for Will and Ian's old band Our Time Down Here too. I pre-ordered the EP due to the variant game, and the press was more limited to /300 too. Since this was a larger, one colour press I waited it out til release day and grabbed it with this voucher. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

Although a similar deal of a 12'' with 5 tracks, a lot has changed. Moving from a small Indie label to a major has allowed the band some real cool opportunities, and whilst this bunch of songs took a little more time to love; they are just as great as anything on the self titled EP. Their sound has developed, the production is a little poppier in places, but the songs are brilliant and it's definitely up there as one of the best EP's 2015 has seen. 

Stickered shrink 

As a slight downside, there is no insert// lyrics sheet or download code here. By comparison, it seems that the Palm Reader put a little more love into the physical of the last EP; and it's not like Roadrunner don't know how to. Iowa by Slipknot as a vinyl release was incredible, especially taken into consideration the time when it was put out. However, downsides or none I'm really happy to have this release and I feel this band are truly humbled by any and all support they get. 

There we go. Sorry it's been a little on the long side, but sometimes these kinds of releases come with a little more to say. I like to think I can attach some kind of memory or story to most records I own, or at least a decent amount of them. 

Cheers!